Orchard-cultivator



(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet I. G. RICHARDSON & G. ENDERSON.

ORCHARD CULTIVATOR.

No. 279,277. Patented June 12,1883.

N. Pains Phulo-Umgrauhor. Wuhinglom n. cy

- 2 Sheets--Sheet '2. G, RICHARDSON 85 G. ENDERSON.

(No Model.)

OROHARD GULTIVATOR.

No. 279,277. Patented June 12, 1883.

awe/Mm jww axmm UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAMOS RICHARDSON AND GEORGE ENDERSON, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA.

ORCHARD-CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,277, dated June 12,1883.

Application filed February 27, 1883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GnMos Rrcnrnnson and GEORGE ENDERSON, of San J os,county of Santa Clara, State of California, have invented an ImprovedOrchard-Oultivator; and we hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to a new and useful. cultivator, speciallydesigned for use around trees in orchards, 8:0.

Our invention consists in a frame the teeth of which on one side of thecenter are set in an opposite direction to those upon the other side.The center of the frame is provided with a bearing for embracing thetrunk of the tree and a means for rendering it adjustable to fitdifferent sizes of trees, all of which will hereinafter fully appear,reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1,Sheet 1, is a perspective view of our device, showingits application tothe trunk of a tree. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a plan of our cultivator.

In order to obtain good results from fruittrees, it is necessary to keepthe ground around them well broken up and light. The use of the ordinaryplows and cultivators for this purpose requires careful handling andsome skill to get in as close to the trees as possible without injuringthem. This is especially the case where the trees are permitted to headlow, as is now mostly done.

It is the object of our invention to'cultivate around the tree as closeas is necessary, and

without damage and with facility.

Our device consists of a long light frame, A, having any form ofcultivator-teeth B secured thereto. Upon one side of the center of theframe the teeth are all turned in a direction opposite to the directionof those upon the other side of the center,-Fig. 2. A tooth, b,

- Fig. 1, is situated near the center in order to get as near the trunkas possible. One side of the frame is cut out at its middle, and has letinto it a bar, forming a semicircular bearing, 0.

D D are the draft-bars, secured to opposite sides of the frame, andextending diagonally in opposite directions, and parallel.

O is a curved bar, pivoted by one end upon the frame. With this isconnected a rod, E,

extending in suitable guides along one of the (X0 model.)

draft-bars, and having adetent, 0, upon its end, adapted to engage withany of a series of holes,

f, formed in a plate secured upon said bar.

An upright piece, upon the end of this rod serves as a handle by whichto grasp it. F is a runner on each end of frame A, to limit the depth ofthe teeth.

The operation of this cultivator is as follows It is fitted to the trunkof a tree, its bearing C encircling one side of the trunk, Fig. 1. Therod E is thenpullcd outward, which swings the curved bar 0, to encirclethe other side of the trunk, or enough of it to secure the frame to thetree, Fig.1. Therod is held in place by the detent c, and thus insuresthe bearing of the frame upon the trunk. The draft is then applied tothe bars D, an d the cultivator travels around the'trec, using its trunkas a pivot.

It will be observed that when the device has moved through one hundredand eighty degrees the ground will have been broken throughout theentire circle, for at that point the teeth 011 one side will reach theplace where the teeth on the other side commenced. Then by making onecomplete turn of the cultivator the ground will be worked over twice,and will thus be fully broken or pulverized and put in proper order.

We intend to use this as a hand-cultivator, because it will be easierfor men to move around the tree without injuring it than for horses, andthe device, being light, may readily be op erated by hand. It may beused under lowheaded trees without damaging them, and on account of theswinging bar 0 it may be ad justed to various sizes of trunks. Thebearing by which it encircles the tree being smooth and not fitted verytightly, no injury to the bark will result.

Having thus described our invention, what we wish to secure by LettersPatent is 1. An orchard-cultivator having teeth arranged in oppositedirections upon each side of the center, and provided with a centralbearing adapted to fit and turn upon the trunk of the tree, asdescribed.

2. An orchard cultivator consisting of a frame, A, having a centralbearing, 0, adapted to fit one side of the trunk of a tree, the teeth B,arranged in opposite directions upon each side of the center of theframe, and an adjustable bearing attached to the frame and (to said bar,and engaging with a suitable holdadapted to fit the other side of thetrunk of ing-raelc on the draft-bar D, and the runners the tree,substantially as and for the purymse F, all airaiiged and operatingsubstantially as herein described. and for the pnrpose herein described.I 5 5 3. An orehardeultivator consisting of the In witness whereof W0hereunto set our frame A, having a central curved bearing hands.

the teeth B on each side of the eenter of the 1 GAMOS RICHARDSON.

frame, the oppositely-extending parallel dra'l't- GEORGE ENDERSONI bars1.) l), the curved bar 0, pivoted on the \Vitnesses:

JAMES l3. (APR IO i'raine, andlneansl'oradjnstingandholdingsaid GEO.)IUCRAQKEN,

bar to its place, consisting oftherod E, seem-ed l

